With all eyes shifting from Iowa to New Hampshire, the six remaining Republican presidential candidates gathered for two debates in the Granite State this past weekend.

Both debates featured the full ensemble – Speaker Newt Gingrich, Gov. Jon Huntsman, Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), Gov. Rick Perry, Sen. Rick Santorum and Gov. Mitt Romney.

Saturday night’s ABC News and Yahoo! News debate encompassed a variety of issues, the obstacles to growing our economy and creating jobs. Sen. Santorum highlighted the NAM’s cost study, which shows that it is 20 percent more expensive to do business in the United States. This figure excludes labor costs. The cost burden rose from a 2008 report which put it at 17.6 percent. The report indicates the increase is due to widening gaps in regards to corporate tax rates and employee benefits.

While we have emerged from the economic recession, we are still facing challenging times. Unemployment remains at 8.5 percent and employers frequently cite “uncertainty” as their reasons for not expanding. This in turn, lowers our competitive edge. These topics were also echoed during Sunday’s NBC News and Facebook debate.

Several other candidates, including Gov. Romney and Gov. Huntsman discussed the need to become more competitive and Speaker Gingrich reiterated his plan to lower the corporate tax rate.

Manufacturing needs to be at the forefront of our economic recovery and it is encouraging to see presidential hopefuls talk about the need for a “manufacturing renaissance.” The National Association of Manufacturers is hopeful that the candidates will continue to discuss their manufacturing plans during the upcoming South Carolina and Florida debates.

Congress is considering a controversial bill that would take away a worker’s right to a private ballot on union organizing. Ironically, the legislation is entitled the “Employee Free Choice Act.”

Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA), a guest on this week’s “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” radio program, will talk about why lawmakers should kill the bill. It is expected to come up in Congress early next year.

“They call it the (Employee) Free Choice Act but what it really does is take away people’s choice,” McKeon says. “It’s not just Republicans that are against this. George McGovern, one of the most liberal men to ever run for the presidency, has come out against it because it takes away democracy from the people.”

Election Day is less than two weeks away. Noted pollster John McLaughlin will join Mike to discuss how the presidential campaign is shaping up and what the makeup of the Congress could be after Election Day.

Speaking of Election Day, the National Association of Manufacturers has launched a “Get Out the Vote” Web site. NAM Vice President Tiffany Adams will tell us how manufacturers are using this Web site to get their employees fired up on Election Day.

You may have noticed there are more candy displays at your local grocery store. That’s because Halloween is coming. Jelly Belly Candy Company Vice Chairman Bill Kelley will give Mike a taste of the Halloween-themed candy Jelly Belly is rolling out this year.

In our regular segments, Renee Giachino of American Justice Partnership gives us the latest on tort reform and commentator Hank Cox recalls the “The Way It Was.” And the National Association of Manufacturers President Gov. John Engler will close the program with “The Last Word.”

For more about “America’s Business with Mike Hambrick” and to listen to the program online go to http:// www.americasbusiness.org.